The Movement

" Why are people suddenly beginning to recognize that the Republicans than Democrats may actually be. Tweedle Dee and tweedle dumb just two different versions. Of the same time. Big government that basically just wants to acquire power for itself at the expense of the sovereignty of the states. While Pennsylvania calls itself a -- And at the expense of our individual liberty Jake. Ohrnberger stays with us -- the executive director of young Americans for liberty joins us. I -- Schneider is the president of the Washington DC chapter of forum for freedom. And Alexander -- with students for liberty stays as well I --"

" Why is the average age of people in this room about ninety. And to take me -- I broke the average goes down even lower. Well students are interested in liberty. Liberty has become one of the biggest topics -- on our campuses especially after the economic crisis didn't starting to question where their teachers going. What are the politicians doing. -- our money going to go when are we going to be in debt are we going to take responsibility for this. Well we're the future leaders we have to ask ourselves what are the incentives. That Hutchison's or taking what we do about it."

" Jeff for the young people who were questioning the government today -- the questioning in in the Bush Administration. Where they questioning the Patriot Act with a questioning the authorization to use military force which wasn't a declaration of war. Or suggest fashionable today because the Democrats have two thirds control of both houses of congress."

" Suddenly they weren't think a lot of -- with the -- And a lot -- come around announcing that look these are two ways to two wings of the same bird you Republicans and the Democrats. And we've got to wake up we've got to see that's it's not just the Republicans have been taken -- liberties denounced Democrats."

" Alexander did. Did libertarians. Vote. For Barack Obama because they were sick and tired. Of the prior administration and they have some false hope. That he would mean what he said with respect of liberty and the constitution. And -- they now seriously disappointed. I don't think libertarians are disappointed at all I think most libertarians students in particular. Are not looking to politics for the answer they are empowering themselves in order to fight for liberty. Before the presidential election really got heated two years ago students started actually come together -- and start organizations for liberty on their campus is they start to come out and speak their minds. And what we see right now wait -- student movement for liberty being so massive student from liberties network alone is over 200 student groups. Is that they're finally a point where that we're not willing to just sit back and let the government become as big as it wants for ten years down the road -- Jake ohrnberger how long -- the future for Freedom Foundation and around. Is it easier now to resonate with young people. That it was -- years ago has had to have things happened. In in world events and in the minds of people that makes liberty. More attractive stated differently. The fear of the loss -- more acute."

" There's no question -- IA I dreamed of these days where you'd see the excitement in this movement and it's come. Despite the darkness that comes out of Washington DC. This movement is the light that is shining through that darkness and to see all these young people involved in this movement. See this revitalization. Of where people are talking about the socialist threat and the foreign policy -- the welfare state the war for state. The Federal Reserve. These are exciting times this show these are exciting time."

" Jeff you know this is so because you and I've been a lot of these events together. And -- the speaker you see the young people mobbed me after I speak it is not I -- that they mob. It is the articulation I suggest of the ideas of freedom which we haven't -- stated imports both come allying. Ways before."

" The idea is you gotta be careful judge did you make -- draft reference points well. There's a lot of people are young people talking about them my -- that -- so you're gonna change the subject. -- Ideas -- ideas on them all of the prime example of local police say keep attention off himself and since the ideas that are carrying this movement the ideas that are -- This large students who -- student led movement that's what we're hoping to continue."

" What do the students to our arena in a -- a goal. On November election. I mean do they pick a Democrat -- they pick a Republican. Who they back an independent party candidate. Do they not get involved in in state house races -- in congressional races at all but what's the prevailing thought on that today I -- very frustrating."

" It's very frustrating often times we see this where we have campus is just overcrowded with students who rushed towards. You know the Stevenson who rushed towards that Democrat because they think that the state can take care of them. But more and more -- in the past two years we've seen such an increase in their -- of students who really care about the ideas of liberty and the question you know. Why does this state gets a portion where my life liberty and property goes why don't I have responsibility for that and you know that's one of the biggest issues here today -- a lot of students in fact are starting to turn around and run for office on a more libertarian platform."

" Alexander -- are there are people on college campuses today. Young people who really want the government to take care of them. Who would sacrifice. Their liberty for some type of false. Government dependency. I actually think that there aren't many students like that these days you talk to a typical college student. They are more libertarian than almost -- and older generations there's never been more pro liberty generation and there is today. Students for liberty has been running regional conference all around the United States for the past three weeks we have two more going on in two weeks all of these students hundreds of them coming out. Don't want the government to take care of and they want the government to get out of their lives and be able to run it is they want to see that Jake window when you and I were younger. And I was younger longer ago than when you're younger. We used to call people that believed in limited government and maximum individual liberty conservatives. Does that title still hold today after that. Forgive me compassionate conservative that just vacated the white house of course nine."

" You know long ago libertarians threw in the towel they accepted the premises of the big government state. I think they wanted respectability they wanted power and they figure the only way to do that was to surrender their principles. That left a void that the libertarians who filled we're the only ones now that stand for genuine liberty free markets private property the constitution. Limited government. That's and we stand for principle we don't train our principal for the sake of political power or popularity. And that's what's attracting people this."

" Arena the young people understand that if present administration gets its way they all have to pursue happiness in -- noncommercial. Way. Because the government will tell them what they can invest. How they can invest it and what they can turn off of that investment and if they do understand that that might be coming. Doesn't -- terrify them."

" Absolutely. You know there's always this idea that oh well maybe the state can take care meaning in this state can balance things mediate can -- me good lifestyle in the future. However as we've seen the Obama administration. I'm continuously -- to -- keep its promises and continuously failed to provide us you know that -- dream that we would all be injured and that we all have this. You know grade economic background in the government to back us up while it's not happening -- students. I'm starting to question that they're coming out --"

" One of the faces and images that we -- at the beginning. Of -- freedom watch at my insistence as Barry Goldwater probably the last person. Who ran for president who said half of these laws I'm not gonna -- force. And have of these taxes I'm not gonna collect and I'm running for president because I wanna shrink the government. Will we ever see the likes of that again. From a serious. Parra a candidate for the white -- one --"

" We'll have to -- that that I was actually a liberal back in those days in my home I'm in Lyndon Johnson beat your man. While those Catholic like -- convert they say so you obviously came into the -- what I learned was that the -- the liberals were a bunch of frauds is that it that this system they advocate minimum wage laws -- offers a are the biggest assault on the poor that you could ever -- They locked the poor are the labor market they put the -- under the control of the state. That then that's when I discovered that libertarian is -- which is -- Goldwater was talking about is the way that you bring people up from the bottom. That that's the best way you help the --"

" When the president says things like. Or hints Jeff. That they might wanna abolish the income tax for people under earning under a 100000 dollars a year and take care of their health needs for them. Do young people by that. Where they basically say to the government. I want. To be left."

" A -- more -- more young people are seeing government is as the burden. And then went responsibility for the lives the futures financial security with you mentioned about that has been -- destructive means honest you know paying into the system knock it back. But there you're right the -- devices they'll say look we will not we will not allow you pay income tax -- a little bit sensitive eyes just a little bit to take away you liberties and figure with --"

" a couple of weeks ago I was interviewing congressman James Cliburn. Who is the number three ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives. And I said to him congressman Cliburn where in the constitution. Is the federal government authorized. To take over manage control and regulate health care and he said to me judge. Most of what we do down here is not authorized by the constitution question. Are you surprised. That members of congress actually believe that. That they can write any -- they want irrespective of the document which they took an oath to preserve protect and defend. Absolutely not -- the strike. When they think I think you're right anyone they want. This is postseason I don't know but was personal arrogance or historical ignorance or both or whatever -- problem is. Was so outraged when a reporter asked her. Three time. -- where is the power in the constitution for all these regulations. Her view is. I think. The congress is a general legislature that can regulate any human behavior it wants. Do young people who love freedom except that are they willing to go where somebody from the front. -- nose to nose with these big government characters."

" Well you know judge and -- past couple of months copies of that restaurant have been flying off the shelves in almost every commercial store. I'm in fact students all over the place are starting to realize that perhaps the government is not responsible. We're taking care of us they're starting to discover. Philosophers economists -- kayak. I'm Adam Smith. I -- they're starting to see well you know what. Maybe we have to have principles media our government has gone so far has been ratcheted up to such an extent that it will never be decreased but. Are we willing to accept that actually not have to protector -- because the year the future."

" What a beautiful brilliant articulation. Of a philosophy. A personal freedom. You know what's more that you're gonna have to move into a bigger building at the future of of of Freedom Foundation. How old how does that message of freedom resonate. From your end from the professional. End. With college students today."

" We've never seen greater -- progressive. -- receiving of this message in the twenty years we've been doing this we we prison and uncompromising. Message on -- the future Freedom Foundation. And it's incredible how those principles are resonating among young people."

" Then when you say to -- two other young people Jeff I don't want the government to take care of me I don't wanna make port -- my pay more taxes. I really do wanna pursue happiness as I perceive my own pursuit of happiness to be. To they look at you like to have three heads or does that resonate."

" makes perfect common sense I think if you assets anyway advised at that passes the logic that's. I love how -- you live your -- you see that as long as you would allow me to live my -- a nice thing it's only government and then and it comes -- and -- life."

" Alexander would get -- Thomas Jefferson doesn't resonate heard of people say I'll -- 200 years ago what difference does it make what he thought. It's absolutely incredible to see the transformation -- students when I started university Pennsylvania libertarian association of an undergrad and we were table outside. We barely got it when it's in no we knew what we -- talking about. When I started the -- is for liberty group Georgetown as a graduate student just this past year I would think with Libby they would go the -- And I'm not visiting -- to say I am supposed to say what the -- California right. I don't know the answer that either -- but -- what you can't say what that they don't everybody foxes watching. They don't I don't know where is they don't -- is but -- go to libertarian is these days anything signed me up work right away it's exciting. What's the greatest threat to our liberty today Jeff."

" Government obvious obvious but. -- just put on the list with the war. The offense on our civil liberties. Analysts taxes government debt I would say as one of the big ones because it is this is what's going to be put on our shoulders doesn't -- the the burden that we're gonna happen there."

" I mean -- young people understand. What government debt will do. To them to us to our children to our grandchildren with respect to taxes or inflation. That you might have to have a wheelbarrow to go to the supermarket. To buy a loaf of bread."

" Absolutely you know what's really wonder fall. And -- here too because the student movement has grown so dramatically. I started to see so much interests and where I go to school American University which has been considered to be rather -- and pseudo socialist type of school. And in the past two years there's been such a rise and you know arguments in the classrooms for public choice for the free market people are starting to realize well you know whites. This debt means something. This debt is not something we can just pretend it doesn't exist you no money has value. And students are starting to cling to that I've seen so much more of those arguments it's really really. You know it gives me so much hope."

" Jake -- current economists that you and I both admire my nieces. Once said government is essentially. The negation. -- Freedom is the default position we were born in the state of freedom the government takes in --"

" The -- agreed and I think we'd be remiss not to mention the tremendous infringement on liberty that the drug war it it has done -- our. To our liberties. I mean that is a core principle is the idea that. It used to be freed in -- whatever you want to only on our own bodies still has the government to tell us what the put and horse and and I agree with your friends here -- statement and niece that's living on -- and it the other important quote I think among many that he made was that. All of us have a duty to get involved in this battle that we cannot stand aside with what -- unconcerned. It is incumbent on every individual to get involved in this fight for freedom and restore the heritage of liberty."

" countries did Alexander here's something that drives me crazy when people say we have to balance. Liberty. With order. My argument is we should have a bias. In favor of liberty. They are not equals liberty is the default position liberty is the birth right. Order is -- the is the interference with liberty they should never be an -- every conceivable benefit of every doubt. Should be given to the freedom of the individual. Now why when I say that and a college campus to the kids jumped to their feet don't -- it. I think a lot of them do it that a lot of students also -- just resonate with the fact that liberty is order it you're actually advocating legitimate liberty these days. All right are -- getting to the end it is it time for questions from the audience he wanted to sign off if you want me to write to court to Q and a day."

" all right apparently what we're doing is resonating well in New York. Somebody else is going on in New York -- you with the red shirts. So they wanna so they wanted to go to some questions -- right here come on out. Can't hide in the back but there's your microphone make it brief as -- that a couple of 100000 pair of eyes on you right now. -- this and I don't hear myself --"

" I don't hear myself."

" You know I just blurted out. Well I I was here like five minutes -- so I'm -- cover this already but could you discuss torture. We did not discuss we did not discuss election this good a good question. Jacob -- I have argued on fox. And elsewhere. That it is so profoundly violence of of the rights of an individual no matter who the individual is or what the individual is accused of having done. That we don't do it and we don't condone it as Americans under any circumstance stances to anybody for any higher reason."

" Agree or disagree. Absolutely agree this is a moral abomination. This country should never embark on that and the people who did it should have been punished severely immediately to send a message this isn't gonna be --"

" No matter how high up the chain of command the people who did it the prosecutors have to go -- If even to the top if necessary for an answer."

" Judge the -- thank you for being here question is about sovereignty. And how the individual should be the sovereign above the state. Where does that actually come into play when we're talking about delegating powers to the government do not the authorities still live with the individual."

" Well. The right -- with the individual. I mean if we created the government by giving away a little bit of our sovereignty for some kind of common good. To the commonwealth where's the represented of -- Pennsylvania. And in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and turned. Gave away a little bit of that sovereignty for the federal government that would all work if people. -- Followed the constitution. Believed in the natural law and accepted the primacy of the individual -- but people in the government don't write."

" Those accurate -- the premise of this questions correct and that's we we inherently -- free we report with our freedoms. And it's a slippery slope when you start giving away a little bit of your freedom a little bit -- sovereignty. For a quarter or protection wherever they may claim the victory -- the from mr. questions deadlines this -- was an individual."

" A question I have for all the young people who -- correct -- home listening. What can we do to get more involved there's a lot of talk about the idea is what can we do to help fight fairly -- first working young people do to get involved."

" Well there's lots of things primarily. Students for liberty has been reading regional conferences all over the United States this year there's two -- one of -- is actually here at Drexel University. On November 7 -- and a week and a half. There's going to be all of the greatest leaders students activists here altogether celebrating liberty discussing these issues and thinking about how they can change the world -- liberty."

" Jeff -- your professional work to bringing on people into the liberty movement where can this young man and his friends felt that students -- is -- great organization young Americans liberties organization I run the continuation students Ron Paul. And our purposes education's a great that's great tool that's step one recruiting young people -- message. Grasping these ideas but the question is now what do we do with these ideas what do we do how to take action. That's -- Americans liberty comes -- we train young people to get involved what are we don't have we take action Alexander. Important things just to go out there and start something get the word out a way that's not happening already whether that's starting -- group. Starting a nonprofit organization started law get the message out some more individuals -- leader for liberty in today's world the problem for two years ago was that -- was standing up and speaking out for these ideas. The reason student liberties so -- right now this students are taking charge of their campuses they're starting to actually speak out in favor of these ideas. And that's how we're going to -- this even bigger --"

" Judge I've been following a lot of political analysts lately a little louder and slower. I've been following a lot of political analysts lately and I've noticed that some people like Igor Penner in and generals -- are saying that. There's a good chance that. America will divide up into several smaller countries do you think that's likely and if it's likely is -- a good thing."

" Jake -- do you think we will divide up. Into smaller countries do you think this Rick Perry is serious the governor of Texas in the state of Texas. Will secede."

" I think I think it's a fun debate and the possibility of that happening -- it pretty nonexistent. You know its -- thing one of the great modern as big government liberals George Canon. Actually wrote a -- scholarly piece arguing that the United States should be split up into about five or six sovereign entities. So that as Ronald Reagan would say a generation later. You could vote with your feet the reason that question is asked where's the young man who asked. The reason you have asked that question is because the states have lost their sovereignty. The states is to have such different laws that if you didn't want to live in the people's republic of New Jersey sorry Jon Corzine. You came to Pennsylvania where America begins but with the federal government federalizing everything. With a going to -- to the states and bribing them will favor owed eighty if you change these laws there is so little difference. Among the states it's hard even to use the word sovereign. And state in the same sentence. Take a microphone. Right now it looks like the relationship between the state government and the federal government is a Stockholm syndrome. It's very nicely put it very nicely but they enjoyed being beaten up."

" Thank you sir may I have another."

" Judgment -- on campus Derrek Lee newsletter name -- he's there when I'm out on cancer the student every front we're talking about. Wars often -- a lot of people bring up the drug war and that's something that's overlooked a lot -- I feel like you do not own segment we kind of overlook the drug war."

" People should not be afraid to acorn burger or or one of you mentioned that at the end people should not be afraid to say. That you have the right to put into your body whatever you want it doesn't mean you want to do it. It doesn't mean you do break the law it means that you recognize that your body is your temple and you know -- not the government. And it's none of the government's business what you put in your body. Outside. Is that 58 billion. With a B. Drug war that's tax dollars. Wasted every year and the lives wasted in jails and the loss of life in the streets. Because one the government make something illegal people will still get -- it'll just cost more and they'll commit crime in order to get. Great question -- please thank you sir."

" We've seen it recently you a bunch of state -- believe like 27 pass resolutions asserting their tenth amendment rights. As well as you talked earlier about nullification. California right now going back to the drug war is bring in a bow. Bring -- up for vote legalizing and taxing marijuana. But with that. We're -- of a large growth in state activism and states trying to come back in in in -- in the federal government that they created. -- if you ask you talk about the importance of local government and state government and and how students can get involved in those and why they should care about that more than the national. --"

" While there is a professor at George Mason University Walter Williams news made -- proposal a few years ago. Where he said that win this thing in the federal government starts imposing these mandates and conditions and threats. -- what the state officials ought to do is have all their citizens send their income taxes to the state government. And -- the federal government starts complying with the orders of the state officials that will be the time when -- get there income taxes. I've found it would be AM interesting for."

" Of -- there were there the resolutions are state sovereignty in my -- were toothless. They are just resolutions. The states really need to do things to challenge the government like. Prohibit the federal government from serving search and arrest -- inside the state without the permission of of local law enforcement. Prohibiting lot of local law enforcement from enforcing federal laws the feds simply lack the manpower and the -- to do it and my favorite. Even though this has been unconstitutional. Since -- versus -- Taxiing. Federal property within the states let's give that a try and maybe the Supreme Court will look at it again. Look at it differently this time they've got to turn around come up here want that shirt it. When everybody to see that censure. One of the greatest human beings in the history of the world may be this young man. But -- these six."

" these sister right there you after whom the grapevine mesa since the turn and Auburn Alabama. Is named one of the great philosophers for freedom in modern times -- after that introduction here."

" They sent so my question was a lot of times we're -- mainstream media and plays like Michael Moore is movie things though. Often called capitalism the you know the fault of the crisis capitalism the system of free enterprise and private property. And they -- the it was -- accepted its corporate is an intervention isn't and I want to ask that you guys thought this was. Intentional it or they you know are they trying to deceive us or they just incompetent and don't understand -- that we even have capitalism left in this country professor -- burger. Think he makes a great point is that you've got this system of massive welfare state is the intervention is -- regulation and we're all brought up in our public schools. It's being -- that this is free enterprise. This is nonsense -- the opposite of free enterprise free enterprise is the is the eradication of Social Security Medicare. Or taking care of you and other programs bailout stimulus plans regulations. That's what freedom thought about it's our. I'm from a southern state and immigration is a big hot topic there what -- we do. Tom casino we got the 2000 ten census coming up. And what we do to make -- that. We don't have problems with people being taken -- the census that don't actually help."

" I'm gonna ask that we not get into that only because it's -- amongst people in this room some of us believe that the government has no right excluding anybody. That the board should be open and this is the land of the free and anybody that wants to come here ought to be able to come here if we had a government to protect our freedoms. Others believe that it's a it's a drain on on society but that's another topic for another time. Don't be this kind of a garden party ahead. Last question judge."

" Terror a couple of months ago the student liberty front was having a picnic. Owen kind of a public property area in the city. And we had some constitutions. That there were handing out and we are playing football and some federal officers came up to us and said that we are not allowed to be dispersing material. Now we weren't bothering anybody but they said that we had to tell them what time are going to leave the -- the are basically harassing us. -- they told us that it was federal lands. What kind of authority do they have quite what was the violation playing football are handing out literature this first thing. Literature."

" Minutes and then. In America. In 2009. The cops -- tell you can't pass out a piece of paper to which the cop himself took note. -- appalled as the supreme law of the land behind him didn't seem to care very much I'll I'll tell you as a former judge I know it is difficult to resist the police. With their shields and their guns and their power. But history was written by those who resisted. Not by those who -- a law thank you for joining us tonight."

" From Philadelphia. Defending freedom -- free America."

" Okay okay."